Wisconsin Lutheran looks to rise to the top in 2012

MILWAUKEE - The 2012 Wisconsin Lutheran College
football team has high expectations as it heads into the season and
will hope to carry momentum over from a very successful 2011
campaign as they reach for new heights. Last season the Warriors
finished 6-4, including a program-best 5-2 mark in conference play
and ended the year with four straight wins, snapping Northern
Athletics Conference champion Benedictine's 16-game conference
winning streak to end the season.

With the success of last season and many returning pieces to the
puzzle, WLC will be looking for its first-ever conference
championship in 2012. Thirteenth-year head coach Dr.
Dennis Miller sees no reason why his team can't compete for a
conference championship this fall.

"I think we have consistently improved every year and I think
that is a very good goal for us," Miller said, when talking about
the goal of winning a conference championship. "We have high
expectations for the season and the players have high expectations
for the season and that's a real good combination when those two
fit together."

Miller hopes that the Warriors' strong finish to the 2011 season
will carry over to this year after the program-best four-game
winning streak. Not only will the winning streak carry over, but
the big victory over Benedictine in the final game of 2011 will
also bring big momentum to the team.

"I think that momentum clearly carried over into the offseason
and into recruiting for us," Miller said. "I think the win over
Benedictine was a big benchmark for our program and very big for
our veteran players."

Miller knows the key to reaching the ultimate goal in 2012 will
be playing with consistency early and often. "Last year we got our
act together mid-season and played very consistent the rest of the
way," Miller said. "I think any coach will tell you what their
looking for is consistency."

OFFENSE
The 2011 Wisconsin Lutheran College offense was the best in school
history as the Warriors set numerous school records. With several
key pieces returning to the fold, WLC may have an even bigger
offensive explosion in store this fall.

"We did some really good things in 2011 and while I'm a big
believer that every year is a new year, we do return a lot of key
players and I see no reason why we can't pick up where we left
off," Miller said.

One of the key reasons for the high expectations on offense in
2012 is the return of senior quarterback Zach
Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township). Shaw will be in his fourth
year as the team's starting quarterback, something very rare in
college football. Last season, Shaw threw for 1,933 yards and 15
touchdowns while adding six more rushing scores.

"This is my 25th-year of head coaching and only the second
quarterback I've ever had that has been a four-year starter,"
Miller said. "There is no finer teacher than experience and Zach
has seen a lot of different things and that helps us look forward
with optimism."

Shaw will have plenty of familiar faces around him this season,
including the return of three running backs that saw significant
action last season. WLC did lose top running back Jesse Muldrow but
returns junior Donavin
Tucker (Brookfield, Wis./East), senior Taylor
Pelot (Fond du Lac, Wis./Campbellsport) and sophomore Michael
Reeves (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) to the backfield
this season. Tucker finished third in the NAC in rushing last
season with 773 yards, including rushing for a school-record 220
yards against Rockford.

"We have three experienced, solid running backs coming back this
season," said Miller. "Donavin, Taylor and Michael all have
different strengths and skills and will really help our ability to
run the football this season."

WLC will also feature several playmakers in the passing game
this season as the Warriors return a few key players in 2012 led by
senior Josh
Stodola (Denmark, Wis./Denmark). Stodola caught 36 passes for
596 yards last season and finished with five touchdowns.

"Josh is one of those veterans who has a lot of playing
experience," said Miller. "He has the ability to stretch the field
and that will be very important to us."

The Warriors also return several other wide receivers who Miller
mentioned will be able to do some dangerous things when they get
the ball in their hands this year. Among those returning to the
fold this season are sophomore Caleb
Wolf (Cedarburg, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran), junior Matt
Gordy (Macomb, Ill./Macomb), sophomores Travis
Turnquist (Madison, Wis./East) and David
Sell (Manawa, Wis./Manawa) and senior Jorge
Mora (Milwaukee, Wis./Hamilton).

One of the biggest losses for the Warriors this season is Kinte
Collins, an All-NAC performer at tight end and one of the Warriors
top pass catching threats for the past four seasons. Despite the
loss of Collins, Miller feels WLC still has several players who can
do some great things at the tight end position this season. Senior
John
Klein (West Allis, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) is the leading
candidate to replace him, but other players such as senior Lawrence
Seymour (Palm City, Fla./South Fork) could also step into the
position this season.

"John played the tight end role in some ways last year," Miller
said. "Lawrence has had a really outstanding offseason and has a
chance to do some great things this year as well."

An area WLC lost the most from in 2011 was on the offensive
line, but the Warriors still return two players who have garnered
All-NAC recognition in senior Pat
Harrington (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Jensen Beach) and junior Dylan
Applin (West Allis, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran).

"Those two are definitely going to have to be leaders on the
offensive line because of their experience," Miller said. "They are
very good players and will be counted on to lead our offensive
line."

Junior Chris
Klueger (Howards Grove, Wis./Howards Grove) is expected to be
the team's starting center this season but WLC will still need to
find two players to fill the other roles. Miller did mention he is
excited for senior Devan
Boling (Waukesha, Wis./South) to showcase what he can do on the
offensive line after switching over from the fullback position.

"Chris is a smart player who understands the game very well,"
Miller said. "I think Devan has a chance to be a very good
offensive lineman."

DEFENSE At this point last season, the Warriors were not sure
what to expect from the defense as they sent out a unit in game one
that returned only one starter from the previous season. While the
defense hit road bumps early, they responded and played an
outstanding second half of the season, finishing as the third-best
defense in the NAC. With the strong finish in 2011, Miller expects
to see a stronger and much more confident group in 2012.

"Last year at this time there was some angst because we had one
returning starter," Miller said. "By mid-season we were as good or
better than anybody we were playing on the defensive side of the
ball and I have high expectations for this unit."

One big reason for the high expectations this season is the
return of junior middle linebacker Eric
Zeitler (Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran). Zeitler led the
team with 77 tackles last season, including setting a conference
and school record when he recorded 21 tackles versus Aurora.

"Eric is a special player who has great instincts," Miller said.
"He is always around the ball and he makes several plays for our
defense."

Zeitler will be joined by several other returning veterans at
the linebacker position as senior Jim
Wheeler (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park) and junior Cody
Thurber (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) return to the fold
this season. Miller also anticipates several other players who
could contribute as solid linebackers in 2012. Junior Zach
Brandt (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) is one
of those players Miller sees helping the defense this season.

Perhaps the biggest strength to the defense this year will be
the secondary, where several players who made solid contributions
last season are returning.

"The secondary is such a big deal for how many points you give
up," Miller said. "Those are the big plays that have to be stopped
and need to be made."

"Tyler, Jason and Mitch are all solid safety type players,"
Miller said. "Jordan plays the corner quite well and with a lot of
confidence, and Richard and Josh both have a lot of upside."

The secondary should benefit by a defensive line that should
provide plenty of pressure to the opposing team's quarterbacks this
season. Returning to the line are sophomore edge players Josh
Gordon (Bradenton, Fla./Southeast) and Sam
Boyd (Delray Beach, Fla./American Heritage), along with senior
interior linemen Dane
Perlick (Oakfield, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) and Jake
Zautner (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) and sophomore Rick
Melum (Iola, Wis./Iola-Scandinavia).

"Josh and Sam are two players who will provide plenty of
pressure this season," Miller said. "We also have several stout,
tough guys on the inside that will create a nice blend on the
defensive line."

SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Brett
Youngbeck (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer) returns as the team's
kicker this season after connecting on 32-of-37 PATs a season
ago.

"We're very excited to have Brett back this season," Miller
said. "He is a terrific athlete and a guy who didn't start kicking
until about a week into camp last season."

Miller also noted that several freshmen should come in and
compete for the kicking job and expects to see healthy competition
at that position.

The Warriors also return several key players in the return game,
highlighted by Tucker and Turnquist. Both players show an
incredible burst of speed and Miller expects to see big things from
in the return game this season.

"Donavin and Travis both have great speed and both have the
ability to change the game around in the return game," Miller
said.

Wisconsin Lutheran kicks off the 2012 campaign Saturday,
September 1 when it travels to face Ripon in a non-conference game.
The Warriors' first home game is scheduled for a week later against
Olivet. WLC begins NAC play September 29 as it hosts Lakeland on
Homecoming at Raabe Stadium.